Madam President of the Republic,
Distinguished Authorities and Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am very pleased to be back in Peru.  I thank you, Madam President, for your warm words of welcome.  I also express my gratitude for the kind invitation to visit this beloved land and to all those who have organized this trip, making it possible for me to meet with communities from different regions of the country.

This return visit holds a very special meaning for me.  My history with Peru began long before the Lord entrusted me with the Diocese of Chiclayo. For years decades, I shared in the lives of its people, listened to their concerns, and learned from their faith.  Many opened the doors of their homes to me, shared their table with me —and, of course, some good ceviche — and made me feel like one of their own. In 2015, I received Peruvian citizenship.  That act symbolized a bond that this people had been weaving into my life long before.  Today I understand how much of this land remains with me and how much of my own story also belongs to you.

Now I return as the Successor of Peter, called to serve the universal Church.  In light of this responsibility, I recognize in those years a part of the journey through which the Lord was forming me as a shepherd.  If I were granted the chance to relive those years, I would do so with joy, embracing both their happy moments and their difficulties.  That is why I can tell you, with deep gratitude, that I am also returning to my homeland.

Peru has a history stretching back thousands of years, shaped by peoples of diverse languages and traditions.  Part of that history continues to be told in Quechua, Aymara, and the languages of the Amazon.  Over the centuries, other heritages have been woven into it, including the Afro-Peruvian and Asian-Peruvian traditions, which have also helped shape the country’s identity.  Nearly five hundred years ago, the proclamation of the Gospel opened a decisive chapter in that history.  As Benedict XVI recalled, “from the encounter between that faith and the indigenous peoples, there has emerged the rich Christian culture of this continent” (Inaugural Address at the Fifth General Conference of the Bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean, 13 May 2007).  The faith took deep root in these lands and found expression in their traditions and in countless works of charity. Suffice it to recall that the first flower of Latin American holiness bore the name Rosa, and that this Rosa was Peruvian.

The regions of Peru preserve their own traditions, and each contributes something distinct to national life. The unity of a people is strengthened when these differences find their place and each person contributes from their own history and convictions.  Peru preserves everyday expressions of solidarity: communal work projects in which neighbors join forces to carry out a task that benefits everyone, the help families offer one another in times of difficulty, and the hospitality I have witnessed so many times. In these gestures, one discovers a way of loving one’s homeland that is manifested, above all, in caring for those who live there.

To love a people is to desire that everyone may live with dignity among them, to take an interest in them, and to be willing to offer something of oneself for their good.  It is a sentiment that I have come to understand better thanks to you, and which I wish to share today with those who hold public office.

Madam President, distinguished officials: this concern for the good of others is admirably embodied in public service.  Pope Francis, who visited this beloved land in 2018, recalled that politics is “a lofty vocation and one of the highest forms of charity, inasmuch as it seeks the common good” (Fratelli Tutti, 180).  Democratic life brings together people of diverse convictions and aspirations, united by a shared national destiny.  Institutions provide channels through which these differences can find expression and paths to understanding can be forged.  Public decisions also affect those who live far from the places where they are made, and this should never be forgotten.

To understand the needs of those who are far away, we must begin by listening to them. I recall seemingly simple conversations in which the difficulties of a family or the hopes of an entire community came to light. In a country where so many languages are spoken, listening also requires ensuring that everyone can make themselves understood.  Those who turn to public institutions hope to be heard, to understand the decisions that affect them, and to find someone they can turn to with confidence.  Behind the files, routine paperwork, or the abstract national census number, there are real people awaiting answers on which much of their peace of mind depends.

Listening requires special patience when dealing with disagreements or painful experiences.  Peru, too, has gone through difficult times that have tested the ability of its people to live together in harmony. Past events deserve to be treated with justice and sensitivity, leaving room for harmony to grow and for differences to be addressed with respect.   Democratic life implies recognizing that no one has all the answers and that differences do not prevent us from sharing a sincere concern for the good of the country. I would like to encourage everyone to cultivate honesty, integrity, and a willingness to engage with others — qualities that sustain trust among people and give strength to the life of institutions.

For families, peace has a very concrete meaning: going out to work without fear, caring for one’s children, and returning home with peace of mind.  These are simple aspirations, but no one should be deprived of them.  The Church is aware of the suffering caused by violence and wishes to remain close to those who endure it, encouraging the efforts of all who work to protect the life, dignity, and rights of people through law and justice.

Providing for one’s family with dignity is also part of that everyday peace. I think of those who cultivate the land, the fishermen who go out to sea, small business owners, and those who keep cities running. Each of these jobs contributes to the life of the nation and deserves to be recognized in its dignity.  Saint Paul VI taught that authentic development must promote “all people and the whole person” (Populorum Progressio, 14).  Such development encompasses material well-being as well as the cultural, moral, and spiritual aspirations of every person.  There are goods that no economic prosperity can replace: peace of conscience, the certainty of being loved, and the freedom to seek the truth and to guide one’s life according to it.

The desire to seek the truth begins to manifest itself very early on, in the questions through which a child discovers the world. A school capable of embracing that search can open up horizons that once seemed distant and help the child recognize his or her own abilities.  I think with gratitude of the teachers in the various regions of Peru, who accompany this discovery and pass on to their students the values of their land, so that they may learn to know and love it. But the horizons that open up in the classroom must later be matched by real opportunities.  I extend a word of affection to young people, especially those seeking their first job or preparing for new responsibilities. Let us work so that they may develop their talents and generously place them at the service of others, especially those most in need.

When a person falls ill or needs ongoing care, the lives of those around them also change. Anyone who has cared for a loved one knows how much timely medical care, a friendly presence and a word of comfort mean.  I think of the elderly, people with disabilities, and those suffering from loneliness or mental health challenges.  Many families quietly shoulder this burden, often with great sacrifice. I encourage the authorities to support this dedication by providing them with accessible health services and strengthening preventive medicine.  Those who devote their energy to caring for others also need to find someone to care for them.

I also think of the many Peruvian women who have run soup kitchens and community meal programs, and of those who, through their professions and public responsibilities, contribute to the good of the country.  May all of them be able to freely develop their abilities, participate fully in their communities, and live free from violence and any form of exploitation.

In Peru, the rivers of the Amazon, the Andean highlands, and the extensive coastline shape the lives of numerous communities and the work of their inhabitants.  The use of these resources — through agriculture, fishing, or mining — requires caring for nature and respecting the communities that depend on it (cf. Laudato Si’, 183).  Understanding each territory allows us to anticipate the risks posed by natural phenomena and better protect the population.  The solidarity that Peruvians demonstrate in the face of emergencies deserves to be matched by equally committed institutions, capable of preventing disasters and acting in a timely manner when a life is in danger.

Science and technology help us anticipate many of these risks.   Their advances also make it possible to improve health care and bring educational opportunities to remote communities. Artificial intelligence expands these possibilities and transforms the way we work and interact. As I noted in Magnifica Humanitas, these new capabilities call for discernment and a responsible orientation toward the common good (cf. n. 5).  May their benefits reach everyone, and may their development remain at the service of human dignity.   There must also be adequate legal safeguards to prevent potential abuses and protect people from their consequences.

Environmental protection and the responsible use of new technologies also require collaboration among nations.  Due to its location in the Andes and the Amazon and its access to the Pacific, Peru maintains ties with neighboring nations and with peoples from other continents.  Numerous issues affecting the lives of its inhabitants — from environmental protection to migratory movements — are best addressed through dialogue and cooperation.

Furthermore, I think of the many Peruvians living abroad who, while building their lives in other lands, maintain their affection for their families and contribute to their communities of origin.  In cities far away, the image of the Lord of Miracles continues to bring Peruvians together, who find in that devotion a way to maintain ties with their homeland.  I myself have seen Rome decked out in purple!  Distance does not necessarily diminish love for one’s homeland; at times, it allows us to recognize more clearly how much we have received from it.  Those who come to Peru also bring stories and hopes that deserve to be welcomed and respected.  Their stories show that relations between countries have very concrete consequences for the lives of families.

The wars and tensions that afflict so many peoples call for patient diplomacy — diplomacy that keeps dialogue open, respects international law, and seeks agreements that protect the lives and dignity of people.  Every nation has legitimate aspirations, but none can regard the fate of others as extraneous to its own concern.  I encourage Peru to continue contributing to regional and international cooperation and to foster understanding even when positions seem irreconcilable.  May we never give up on seeking ways to alleviate the suffering of peoples and move toward peace.

Relations between Peru and the Holy See are rooted in this spirit of cooperation.  The Peruvian Constitution recognizes the Catholic Church as an important element in the historical, cultural, and moral formation of the nation and provides for collaboration between the State and the Church, within a framework of independence and autonomy, while also respecting other religious denominations (cf. Art. 50).  The Church, mindful of this recognition, wishes to continue offering the Peruvian people what it has received as its mission: to proclaim the Gospel, to accompany those who suffer, and to serve the dignity of every person.  This commitment is evident in its communities, in its educational and charitable works, and in the many lay faithful who, moved by their faith, participate in the life of the country through their professions and civic responsibilities.  May this relationship continue to develop with mutual respect, always seeking the good of all Peruvians.

Ladies and gentlemen: there are many ways to serve Peru.  I thank those who do so through their institutions and all those who, through their daily work, contribute to the good of their communities.  I have received so much from you. There are faces, conversations, and gestures of affection that, even after so many years, continue to stay with me. From the See of Peter, I wish to reciprocate such affection with my prayers and my closeness.  I would also like to propose to you the Social Doctrine of the Church as a guide to enlighten and direct the efforts of all who work for the good of this nation.

At the well of Saint Rose of Lima, generations of Peruvians have placed their petitions and hopes.  Today, from here, I too would like to place my prayer into that blessed well.  Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Rose, and all the saints and blessed of this land, I ask the Lord that the love of Christ may help you to recognize in every Peruvian a brother or sister, and in each one, yet another reason to love your homeland.  May God bless Peru and all its people. Thank you very much.